For the hip, Shibuya nightlife
has a club to cater to every taste
By Doug Huddy, Stars and
Stripes
The bright lights of Shibuya’s nightlife blind the memory of its
daytime appearance.
Shibuya’s crowd is noticeably younger and hipper than other
Tokyo districts. The trashed, dirty streets of Roppongi are a memory, and the 12-hour
party is just waiting for you to arrive.
Foreigners are more rare here than in Roppongi, too.
No matter what your tastes, Shibuya has something to offer.
Dig Dylan and Hendrix? Club B.Y.G. is it. The pace is slow and
laid-back. This is the place to hang out if you like straight whisky chased with the
Rolling Stones.
How about hip-hop in a trendy, sleek setting? O.P.T. is the solution.
O.P.T. is a small, trendy third-floor bar next to Club Asia. O.P.T.’s sign had a
genius equation: café x bar + DJ = OPT, and that’s what led us in. The urban feel
lent itself to the Lauryn Hill blasting through the room.
Do you like your bar to have a Star Wars theme? Shibuya has “The
Cantina,” where every menu item is associated with the sci-fi classic. The first item
was “I’ve got a bad feeling about this” (named after the garbage disposal
scene in the first film), and I couldn’t have disagreed more. This place was open and
friendly and the management and customers were all having a great time.
These are all unique bars, and Shibuya is full of more that are just
as individual.
Bring a lot of cash. Most bars have a cover or table charge. Taxi
money will most likely be needed, too. The trains back home stop running around midnight.
Hail a cab, or stay out until 5 a.m.
To get the night started, walk out Shibuya Station’s north gate.
That will bring you out to Hachiko Square (popular for the statue of Hachiko, the dog).
The large intersection there is popularly know as “Shibuya-ekimae crossing.”
You’ll see the large Building 109 across the street. From
Hachiko square take a left. Follow that street (Dogenzaka) until you see a club called
“Sugar High” on your right. Go down that street, and, after that, let your
conscience be your guide.
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